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Jacksonville ousts WH girls from 5A state tournament

ALMA- Jacksonville senior Markela Bryles put on the most impressive performace of the day, scoring 34 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead the defendign 5A state champion past the 5A-South runner up Lady Bulldogs in the first round.

“Really, really a nice player,” first-year Jacksonville coach William Roundtree said of the 5-foot-10 forward. “Not overly tall, but she has the quick first step and real active hands on the offensive glass.”

Seven of Bryles’ rebounds game on offense.

Bryles scored 11 points in the second quarter to help pull the Red Devils (16-9) - who finished third in the 5A-Central with an 11-3 mark - out of a 16-10 first -quarter hole and tie the game at 28 at halftime. The forward had 20 points at the break.

White Hall (19-6) establised control early, thanks in large part to six baskets off offensive rebounds in the first half and the inside performance of senior post JaeLisa Allen, who had 10 of her team high 17 points before the break. But the Red Devils took the Lady Bulldogs out of their rhythm and attacked the glass in the building a 42-35 lead after three quarters.

White Hall trailed by as much as 53-41 with 6:53 left in the game, but Hailey Wilkins willed the team back in contention with eight of her 14 points in the period. The Lady Bulldogs were within 62-57 before Jacksonville converted 6 of 8 free throws to win.